Del. Geno Chiarelli, R-Monongalia, sponsor of House Bill 2382, speaks on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, on the house floor in Charleston, W.VA.
The West Virginia House of Delegates signed on Tuesday on a legislative template that would prohibit camping on public property throughout the state.
The house approved House bill 2382 with a voice of 89-9 And two delegates who are wrong.
The legislation would impose fines of up to 500 or up to 30 days in prison for homeless people who stare or store personal property on streets, parks, paths or other public property throughout the state.
If the legislative template becomes a law, West Virginia would prevent a similar prohibition in with dozens of local governments with the ban on the homeless person who was sleeping in public areas last year after the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States Grants Pass, Oregon. In West Virginia, At least four cities – Clarksburg, Morgantown, Bluefield and Princeton – Camping bans last year.
Opponents of camping bans say that they do not lend a hand the causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable living space and mental illnesses, and worse the problem by imposing fines and criminal punishments on uncomfortable people, which makes it more tough for them to get into the apartment.
In Morgantown the Morgantown Coalition for Housing Action challenged the camping ban, and the voters will decide whether the regulation will come into force during the election of the city next month.
Bill Sponsor del. Geno Chiarelli, a Republican who represents Monongalia County, said His legislation was a reaction that the city’s camping ban was challenged and possibly lifted.
The coalition is against the nationwide prohibition. A representative of the coalition said that the legislation “illustrates the illusion of the representation that is consistently presented to the working class” and the representative of Monononia County, Tom Bloom, was held responsible for the support. West Virginia Watch could not find any public comments from Bloom, where he supported legislation. Bloom could not be reached for a comment.
“Since an authoritarian regime threatens the whole country, Geno’s legislation and Tom’s support have made it clear that they leave West Virgin and bend the knee to fascism, everything under the guise of economic efficiency,” said Miles Case, part of the coalition, in a written explanation. “The people of West Virginia have a long history in which they opposed tyranny in all forms, and we refused to be quiet again or to take part in his attempted entry into force.”
Chiarelli spoke in favor of the bill from the House Floor on Tuesday and said with the invoice to create a uniform guideline about the homeless warehouse instead of a patchwork of statutes and regulations throughout the state.
“I think if we tackle the problem of homelessness, the problem of drug use, the physical crisis that we are confronted, I think that consistency and uniformity must be somewhat decisive,” said Chiarelli.
He said the bill was a start of the West Virginia cities and the state for a better livelihood.
“Our city [Morgantown] Is not the same as 10 years ago, and this is a problem in which many people are synchronized, ”he said. “There are many moving parts, many gears that all have to rotate at the same time and in the same way. But this is a petite piece that we could do to try to make our cities, our communities a better livelihood, where people are not afraid to bring their children to the public library.
“I would encourage you to be right with yes. And of course this is only a piece that we have moved forward because we will make West Virginia a better place, ”said Chiarelli. “And I think it starts.”
Democrats, which opposed the legislation, cited the need to control and achieve local administration that they would give homeless people a choice between using a ceiling or a tent to keep more or break the law.
The invoice defines camping as “camping utensils”, including “backpacks, bags, backpacks, planning, children’s beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, hammocks or portable cooking devices and similar equipment.”
“What I’m worried … Is it just someone who only tries to find protection that has fallen on difficult times would have to make this choice, right?” said Del. Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell. “Someone who tries to stay warm. And so I ask the question again: What do we do that we cannot check these things a little more. Great idea again, and I really appreciate it. We have to do something, but the way in order not to ensure our neighbors for security. They may go through something, I understand that, but they are still our neighbors in our cities. I have to oppose this legislation respectfully. “
John Williams, D-Monongalia, said that the legislation would take away the ability of Morgantown voters to decide on the camping ban of this city during his election in April.
“After many discussions with a few of my colleagues from Morgantown, it seems to me to be wrong at this time to take up this problem if you are able to give your opinion in just five or six short weeks,” said Williams.
Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson, was the only Republican who voted against legislation.
Clark said that he agreed with the intention behind the legislation to get rid of the homeless warehouse, but suggested that the legislation would be changed so that they do not accidentally affect tourists along the Hatfield and McCoy trail system.
The legislation has Schnitzer for people who are legally camping at campsites or live in a registered vehicle in an area in which they can be lawful. Under Clark’s survey, Chiarelli said that side by side vehicle operators who are not registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles could be regarded as illegal camping if they pull out paths and set up a tent.
“I would hate to see people who are on our bicycle paths or on our hiking trails or on our side-by side paths and get tickets because they decided to drive by side, to take a tent for the evening instead of trying to drive on unknown terrain at night,” said Clark.
The law is next to the Senate to take this into account.
